Consultant (Fund Portfolio Management -Safe Online), End Violence Against Children (EVAC), Home based, Hosted Fund, 12 months, Req

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, Care.

Every year, over 1 billion children experience violence, abuse or neglect. Violence in childhood undermines all other investments in children; in their health, education and development, often with negative lifelong consequences and intergenerational impact. Recognizing the devastating impacts of violence against children, in 2015 world leaders committed to end all forms of violence, abuse and neglect by 2030, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In July 2016, the UN Secretary-General launched the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children and an associated Fund, to help accelerate progress towards SDG 16.2.

The Partnership includes governments, UN agencies, international organizations, civil society,faith groups, the private sector, philanthropic foundations, research practitioners, academics and children themselves – uniting their voices, actions and resources in a unique collaboration focused solely on ending violence against all children. So far, the End Violence Partnership has brought over 700 organizations, helped develop and promote the INSPIRE solutions to end violence, awarded over $76 million in grants to 95 projects to tackle violence against children online, with an impact in more than 80 countries, and galvanized those working to end violence, including two different grantee international convenings (Addis 2019 and Brussels 2022).

As of March June 2023, End Violence's Safe Online investment portfolio includes 95 projects with impact in over 80 countries, which have been awarded through 12 funding rounds to date. The first two (2017 and 2018) were focused on building the foundations of an integrated response to online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (CSEA) through focusing on national, regional, and international capacities aligned with the WePROTECT Global Alliance's Model National Response (MNR) to end and prevent online CSEA. In 2019 and 2022, the Safe Online portfolio launched a targeted funding round, Disrupting Harm (DH), aiming at generating more data, evidence, and learning and focusing on different regions. The data generated by this funding round has also been used to inform new funding rounds on the strengthening of systems at the national level Safe Online is also committed to further invest in building the capabilities related to technology and innovation as outlined in the MNR, channelling funds into potentially higher risk areas of investment such as technology solutions and innovation. In 2019, 2021 and 2023, Safe Online launched three Open Calls for Solutions focused on cutting-edge technology tools for the global community to make children safe online.

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of the Consultancy

End Violence also supports the Safe Online grantee community through creating a strong network which maximises the collective impact and leverages synergies i.e. we invest in more than just individual projects, we invest in global prevention and response to online CSEA. This is done in several ways: through tailored technical support in the form of programmatic visits, check-in calls, in-person convenings, networking facilitated by the End Violence, and knowledge exchange opportunities via the Safe Online Network Forum and global and regional webinars to promote learning within the grantee community and the wider ecosystem. Going forward, the Safe Online team aims to continue investing in the online CSEA ecosystem and collaborative efforts, while also promoting a collaborative culture through connecting grantees to each other, and relevant key resources and mentors to ensure cross-collaboration, knowledge exchange, and learning. With a growing portfolio, End Violence is seeking a consultant to support the creation and maintenance of key systems, platforms, and processes to maximise the End Violence’s return on investment from its Safe Online grants and support its grantee network in sharing and leveraging learning. This role will contribute to the assessment of the portfolio’s needs, manage technical assistance, identify opportunities, and guide cohorts and technical collaboration between grantees and other End Violence partners.

Key deliverables:

The consultant will work within the Safe Online team for a period of one year and be supervised by the Fund Portfolio Manager, in close coordination with the Evaluation Specialist, with a specific focus on monitoring and evaluation, and reporting, including technical support to grantees in this area. The consultant is expected to perform the following key tasks: 1. Development of application documents for each Safe Online call for proposals (approx. 3 calls per year): Adapt and develop the documentation for call for proposals related to monitoring and evaluation, and reporting aspects, based on their scope and nature, with a particular focus on Results Framework and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) provisions. 2. Review of grant applications (approx. 3 application batches per year): including sifting, programmatic review of proposal documents and background materials, with a specific focus on M&E aspects of these applications 3. Development and updating of starter packs for grantees (approx. 3 per year), including clarification of monitoring and evaluation aspects of the grant agreement, reporting obligations. This task will include also the organisation and delivery of kick-off webinars facilitated by End Violence to new grantees; 4. Development of grant management modules in the grant management information systems (in coordination with the designated IT developer): Feed and improve the current system to document and monitor the needs among grantees, as well as coordination of other technical support to be provided via internal colleagues and other experts, with a specific focus on monitoring aspects of the grant making process. 5. Review and dissemination of grant-related assets: Such as human-interest stories, lessons learned and case studies. 6. Review of final and annual programmatic grantee progress reports: to collate results and other relevant information from the grantees’ work for monitoring purposes, but also to be used for communications and advocacy purposes; 7. Coordination of the 2023 Safe Online Annual Report, including inputs from grantee reports 8. Set-up of check-in calls (approx. 3 per month), monitoring visits (approx. one per quarter) and grantee convenings and other knowledge-sharing events (1-2 per year), in close collaboration with the relevant members of the Safe Online team

The consultant is expected to deliver the following key results by August 2024:

Area of WorkDeliverable/activitiesTimeframeEst. number of DaysCall for Proposals evaluationReview of grant applications (approx. 3 application batches per year): Development of proposal evaluation matrices for three 2023 open calls, summarising the inputs from the sifting and review panels (Spreadsheet and Documentation Packages)30 October 202320Grant Management System developmentDevelopment of grant management modules in the grant management information systems (in coordination with the designated IT developer) Development of modules to help the set-up, monitoring and evaluation, technical assistance and closure of grants (Microsoft Office 365 suite and SharePoint)31 January 202490Onboarding of new granteesDevelopment and updating of starter packs for grantees (approx. 3 per year), Development of grant management modules in the starter packs with information about Safe Online grant management processes and practices, including their dissemination and outreach (Documentation Package)28 February 202410Call for Proposals launchDevelopment of application documents for the 2024 Safe Online call for proposals Development of application documents for the 2024 Safe Online call for proposals (Documentation Packages)31 March 202415Grants reports reviewReview of final and annual programmatic grantee progress reports Review and consolidation of final and annual programmatic grantee progress reports (Documentation Package)31 May 202430Safe Online Annual ReportCoordination of the 2023 Safe Online Annual Report Final consolidated draft Safe Online 2023 Annual report (Word document and Documentation Package)15 June 202415Grant management Production of documentation for a Safe Online grantee convening Production of documentation for a Safe Online grantee convening, regarding agenda, programme, coordination and logistics, inter-alia (Documentation Package)

31 August 202420Total number of Days 200Expected Deliverables (measurable results):

The consultant(s) will be expected to deliver the following key results:

• Development of proposal evaluation matrices for three 2023 open calls, summarising the inputs from the sifting and review panels (Spreadsheet and Documentation Package): By 30 October 2023
• Development of grant management modules in the grant management information systems (in coordination with the designated IT developer) (SharePoint libraries and lists): By 31 January 2024
• Development of starter packs for new grantees, including their dissemination and outreach (Documentation Package): By 28 February 2024
• Development of application documents for the 2024 Safe Online call for proposals (Documentation Package): By 31 March 2024
• Review and consolidation of final and annual programmatic grantee progress reports (Documentation Package): By 31 May 2024
• Final consolidated draft Safe Online 2023 Annual report (Word document and Documentation Package): By 15 June 2024
• Production of documentation for a Safe Online grantee convening (Documentation Package): By 31 July 2024

To qualify as an advocate for every child, you will have..

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATION:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in social sciences, international development, journalism, business administration, monitoring and evaluation, data analysis or related disciplines.
  • A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in project/programme/portfolio design and/or management in the international development sector, with a particular focus on monitoring and evaluation and reporting issues.
• Knowledge on issues related to violence against children, particularly online, will be considered a strong asset.
• Experience in grant management is strongly preferred; partnerships experience would be also desirable.
• Experience with Grant Management Systems or other Management Information Systems (preferably MS Office 365 environment and SharePoint) is strongly preferred.
• Ability to synthesize technical information and translate it into accessible products and systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, excellent technical communication with peers and non-technical stakeholders.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is highly desirable and preferred.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATION:

• Demonstrable knowledge on cutting-edge technologies (e.g. artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain) will be considered an asset.
• Comfortable working and negotiating with others to produce the best outcomes.
• Experience working in international development context and remotely, particularly at the field level and conducting monitoring visits, and ability to work in a diverse, multicultural, and highly-collaborative environment.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.